Printing press



Dec. as, was. A. swag 2,184,725

PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb 10, 1939 2 Sheeis-Shee't l Dean 2&3, 1 939 A 51-05 2 184 725 PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb. 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 1 we n or Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PRINTING PRESS Anton Stobb, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to American Type Founders, Incorporated, Elizabeth,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 10, 1939, Serial No. 255,747

10 Claims.

This invention relates to printing presses and more particularly to sheet gripper mechanism especially applicable to the impression cylinders thereof.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanism for automatically actuating the grippers of an impression cylinder or the like, to clamp the sheets at the proper moment upon receiving them from the feed devices, and to release them for delivery after the impression is effected. The present mechanism is characterized by its greater simplicity of construction and operation and low cost of manufacture as compared with prior devices for the same general purpose.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in bed and cylinder presses of the two-revolution type, although not strictly limited thereto. In this kind of press, the impression cylinder takes a sheet from the feed table during the first revolution of its cycle, and transfers it to the delivery mechanism during the second revolution. This mode ofoperation requires that the cylinder grippers be actuated to seize a sheet during the first revolution and to release it during the sec- 0nd revolution. There are commonly employed for this purpose a tumbler member, secured to the end of the shaft which carries the movable gripper elements, and a pair of pins or studs which are alternately projected into the path of the tumbler member to swing it inv either direction to eifect the seizure or release of the sheet. Obviously, each of the studs must'respectively be projected during one revolution of the cylinder and retracted during the other revolution.

In the prior art, these pins or studs have been actuated by cam discs or cam segments carried by the press frame and adapted to be rotated or oscillated by means of gearing or other mechoperated from the main driving mecha-' nism of the press and carefully synchronized with the movement of the impression cylinder. This operation is simplified, however, and all of this extraneous actuating mechanism has been,

eliminated by the present development, which embodies a. stud actuating mechanism associated with the tumbler member itself.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision of the usual tumbler carried by an end of the gripper shaft, and the actuating studs which are disposed in the frame circumferentially about the cylinder at the proper points relative to the points of receipt and delivery of the sheets, to actuate the grippers at the proper times during the cycle of operation. The studs are also positioned at different distances from the center of the cylinder, one of them nearer the center than the gripper shaft and the other further away.

The tumbler element is biased toward its limits of movement in either direction by means of a resilient compression member which comprises a telescoping lever fulcrumed upon oneof the end discs of the impression cylinder and having one end pivotally connected with the tumbler member. Theopposite end of the lever is provided with a cam surface which is adapted to actuate the studs, upon passing beneath them during its rotation with the impression cylinder. The lever is pivoted to the tumbler member at a point offset from the pivot of the latter so that l the lever has a swinging movement about its fulcrum as well as a telescoping-movement, and in this way the cam end thereof is alternately disposed beneath one'or' the other of the studs during its cycles of operation. In other words, upon each actuation of the tumbler member by one of the studs, the cam is set forprojecting the other stud for actuation of the tumbler memher in the opposite direction on the next revolution of the cylinder.

Other objects and features of :novelty will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of my invention is illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings, 1 Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical transvers sectional view of a printing press embodying the principles of my invention, showing one end of the impression cylinder and 2. adjacent side frame;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional frame plates being removedto show the cylinder supporting structure;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4; I

Figure 6 is a detail view in horizontal section portion of the 40 tion of a portion of the press, one of the side taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the end of the impression cylinder with the mechanism shown in the same position as in Figure 3, a portion of the tumbler member being shown in section substantially as taken on line 1-1 of Figure 3.

In general, the basic construction of the press" the subject matter of my copending application- Serial No, 255,746 filed February 10, 1939, and those details are more fully illustrated in that application.

The numeral l0 designates the impression cylinder of the press which is provided with the shaft H, the end portion ii of which is received in the roller bearing M which is carried by the supporting bracket l5 pivotally mounted upon the side frame H), as will be more fully described. Ihe reciprocating form bed 20 is mounted upon the base portion 21 of the press through the medium of the roller carriages 22. The impression cylinder Ill has an end plate or disc" 25 which rolls upon the bed bearer member 26.

The supporting bracket l5 is duplicated upon the opposite side of the press, and these brackets together with their adjusting and operating mechanism are housed within the side frames l6 and are covered by the removable plate 28, shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, but removed from the side frame in Figure 4. In this figure the brackets 15 and associated mechanism are most clearly shown. The bracket I5 is provided with a'cover plate 29 and also with two spaced projections 30 which embrace a portion 3| of the side frame It as shown in Figure 6. An eccentric stud or pintle 32 is rotatably mounted within the portion 3| of the side frame and is provided with eccentric end portions 33 which are rotatably received within the openings 34 in the projections 30 of the bracket l5. Secured to the member 32 as by means of the bolt 35 is the lever. 36, the free end of which is pivoted to one end of the link 38 as by means of the pin 39. The lower threaded end of the link 38 passes through the projection 40 carried by the side frame and is vertically adjustable therein as by means of the nut 42. In this way a fine adjustment of the height of the impression cylinder with relation to the form bed may be obtained.

The brackets l5 are provided with depending lugs or arms to which are pivotally connected the links 46. These links are connected with suitable actuating mechanism for alternately raising and lowering the brackets and the impression cylinder during the return and printing strokes of the bed respectively. All of this mechanism forms the subject matter of my copending application to which reference has been made.

Portions of the feed board are shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, as are also parts of the front stop and sheet registering mechanism 52. In order to seize the sheets from the feed board when released by the front stops, the

impression cylinder is provided with series of stationary and movable gripper elements designated respectively by the numerals 5 1 and 55. The movable grippers are adapted to be rotated from the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings to the position shown in Figure 3 in which their ends are adapted to grasp the front edge of the sheet between themselves and the stationary grippers 54. The movable grippers 55 are fixed to the gripper shaft 56 which is oscillatably mounted in the end members 25 of the impression cylinder.

Rigidly fixed as by means of the pin 58 to one end of the gripper shaft 56 is the tumbler member 60. The mounting of these parts at one end of the cylinder is shown clearly in Figure '7 of the drawings, the tumbler member 6!) being provided with the tubular portion 61 supported in the bearing bushing 62 within the opening 63 in the end disc 25. The tumbler member may also be splined to the gripper shaft 56 as indicated at 64. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, there is provided a rigid abutment element 65 having angular surfaces against which portions of the tumbler member 60 are adapted to abut in the end positions of this tumbler member which it occupies when the grippers are fully opened and fully closed; the open position being shown in Figure 2 and the closed position in Figure 3 of the drawings.

In order to alternately actuate the tumbler member 60 to open and close the grippers, there are provided the two studs 10 and H which are adapted to be alternately projected into the paths of the slotted portions 72 and T3 of the tumbler member. The stud H1 is mounted for reciprocation in the block 75 which is bolted in a portion of the side frame Is as shown at 16 in Figure 1 of the drawings. The pin 'H) is provided with the peripheral grooves 'll into which the spring pressed ball 18 is adapted to enter to provide stop means for the retracted and projected positions of the stud during operation. The rear end of the stud Tl) is bifurcated and pivoted by means of the pin 19 to one arm 8! of the rocking member 8|. This rocking member 8! is provided with a vertical sleeve portion which is carried by the pintle 82 supported in the brackets 83 and 84 carried by a portion of the side frame [6. Another arm 85 of the member Bl projects laterally and downwardly as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings and has a pin 86 secured as by means of the nut 8'! to its lower end. The second stud H is received for reciprocation within a bore formed axially of the eccentric pivot member 32 of the cylinder supporting brackets l5, and the stud is formed with a' recess or socket 89 within which the lower end of the pin 86 is adapted to be received. The member 32 is slotted to accommodate the longitudinal movement of the pin 85, and the boss 3! on the frame 16 is also slotted as at 9&3 to allow for the movement of the enlarged portion 9| of the pin 86.

It will be readily perceived from the above that the pins 10 and II are mounted for reciprocal movement, so that when one is projected from the side frame into the path of the tumbler member 60, the other one is retracted. It will also be noted that one of the pins is conveniently located coincidentally with the pivot point of the impression cylinder supporting bracket, and that therefore these installations may be made simultaneously.

In order to bias the tumbler member 6!! toward its limits of movement in opposite directions. and to afford a snap action which will facilitate these movements upon each side of a dead center position, there is provided the lever Hill which is pivoted or fulcrumed upon the pin II]! which is secured to the end member 25 of the impression cylinder. The lever I00 is formed as a telescoping member comprising the outer portion. l 02 which receives the inner rod portion me which is pivoted as at I04 to a point on the tumbler member 60 spaced from the axis of the gripper shaft 55. The rod I03 is shouldered as at H15 and the inner narrow portion IDS is surrounded by the coil spring I07 which abuts the shoulder at one end and bears against a portion of the lever IUD adjacent the pivot point I'M. Thus the telescoping arm of the lever It!) is continually urged toward its extended position and serves to press the tumbler member 65 against the abutment 65 in each of its rotated positions. This arrangement will of course hasten the movement of the tumbler member toward its limiting positions from the dead center position in which the shaft 56, pivot Hid, and fulcrum Ill! are in alignment.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, the parts are in their several positions just prior to gripping a sheet from the feed board. The grippers 55 are wide open and the slot l2 has just approached the actuating pin it which is projected into the path thereof. The rotation of the cylinder is these views if of course counter-clockwise. Immediately after the position. shown in Figure 2, the front stops 52 on the feed board are raised, the pin it entering the slot '52 rotates the tumbler member 58, the lever m l causing the memher to snap past its dead center position and to occupy the position shown in Figure 3, where the grippers are closed upon the sheet and the actuating pin Ml is leaving the slot 12.

It will be noted that the lever member Hill is generally L-shaped, and is provided with an angular arm I!!! which hasa cam blade H2 thereon having a surface H4 which is movable into and out of two radial positions in which it will respectively cause the retraction'of the pins H and H. just after the sheet has been gripped, the cam surface H 5 been thrown into its outer position, wherein its path of movement will bring it beneath the Hi. When the cam surface M l passes beneath the bin m it will be wedged into the member 75 and the retaining ball l8 will snap into the outer groove l'll. posite pin M will thereupon be projected and will lie in the path of the groove 73 of the tumbler member Elli. occurs during the second revolution of the .inder and will eifect a reverse movement of the tumbler and serve to open the grippers so that the sheet may be deivered from the impress on cylinder. This opposite movement of the tumbler will of course cause the lever Hill to return to the position shown in Figure 2 in which the cam surface H4 is disposed so as to pass beneath the path TI and cause it to be retracted and the pin it! projected in order to repeat the cycle.

heretofore been employed in this connect on.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated and described herein witbout deo. ng from the scene of the invention as defined by the followin claims.

Having thus described the invention. what claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing press of the c ass described. in combination, a supporting frame impressi n cylinder, a gripper shaft oscillatably moun ed in sa d cylinder. and cylinder grippers on shaft adapted to be actuated to ela o printed and to release the nted she for delivery from the cylinder. automatic a-. .tuating means for said rippers comprising a tumb member on said shaft adapted to osci there-- with to and from its opposite lim ts of movement in gripper opening and cleane directions, a pair of alternately operative studs slidably mounted in said frame adjacent said cylinder and adapted to be alternately pro ected into the path of said tumbler member to swing it in op- In the position shown in Figure 3,

The opa sheet to be posite directions, and means actuated by said tumbler member for automatically actuating said studs.

2. In a printing press of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an impression cylinder, a gripper shaft oscillatably mounted in said cylinder, and cylinder grippers on said shaft adapted to be actuated to clamp a sheet to be printed and to release the printed sheet for delivery from the cylinder, automatic actuating means for said grippers comprising a tumbler member on said shaftadapted to oscillate therewith to and from its opposite limits of movement in gripper opening and closing directions, a pair of alternately operative studs slidably mounted in said frame adjacent said cylinder and adapted to be alternately projected into the path of said tumbler member to swing it in oppositedirections, a member for resiliently biasing said tumbler member toward its end positions after passing a dead center position in either direction, and means on said biasing member for automatically actuating said studs.

3. In a printing press of the class described, in combination, a sup-porting frame, an impression cylinder, a gripper shaft oscillatably mounted in said cylinder, and cylinder grippers on said shaft adapted to be actuated to clamp a sheet to be printed and to release the printed sheet for deliveryfrom the cylinder, automatic actuating means for said. grippers comprising a tumbler member on said shaft adapted to osci late therewith to and from its opposite limits of movement in gripper opening closing directions. a pair of alternately operating studs slidably mounted in said frame adjacent said cylinder and adapted to be alternately projected into the path of said tumbler member to swing it in opposite directions, a member carried by said impression cylinder for resiliently biasing said. tumbler mem-.

ber toward its end positions afte passing a dead center position in either direction, and means on said biasing member for automatically actuating said studs.

4. In aprinting press of the class described, in combination. a supporting frame. impression cylinder, a gripper shaft oscillatably mounted in said cylinder, and cylinder grippers on said shaft adapted to be actuated to clamp sheet to be printed and to release the printed sheet for delivery from the cylinder, automatic actuating means for said grippers comprising a tumbler member on said shaft adapted to oscillate therewith to and from its opposite limits of movement in gripper open ng and closing directions, a pair of alternately operative studs slidably mounted in said frame adjacent said owl-- inder and adapted to be alternately projected into the path of said tumbler member to sw ng it in opposite directions, studs being connected for reciprocal movement, a member carried by said impression cylinder for resiliently biasing said tumbler member toward its end positions after pass ng a dead center position in either direction. said bias ng member being movab e upon movement of said tumbler member, means on said.

biasing member shiftable u on each movement of the latter to positions where it will. contact with the respective projected studs for retracting the same and projecting the other of studs.

5. In a printing press of the class described, in combination, supporting frame, an impression cylinder, a gripper shaft oscillatably mounted in said cylinder, and cylinder grippers on said shaft adapted to be actuated to clamp a sheet to be printed and to release the printed sheet for delivery from the cylinder, automatic actuating means for said grippers comprising a tumbler member on said shaft adapted to oscillate therewith to and from its opposite limits of movement in gripper opening and closing directions, a pair of alternately operative studs slidably mounted in said frame adjacent said cylinder and adapted to be alternately projected into the path of said tumbler member to swing it in opposite directions, an arm pivoted to said tumbler member at a point offset from the pivotal mounting of the latter, and also connected to said impression cylinder, a coil spring carried by said arm and adapted to bias said tumbler member toward its end positions after passing a dead center position in either direction, and means actuated by said arm to contact said studs to alternately retract and project them.

6. In a printing press of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an impression cylinder, a gripper shaft oscillatably mounted in said cylinder, and cylinder grippers on said shaft adapted to be actuated to clamp a sheet to be printed and to release the printed sheet for delivery from the cylinder, automatic actuating means for said grippers comprising a tumbler member on said shaft adapted to oscillate therewith to and from its opposite limits of movement in gripper opening and closing directions, a pair of alternately operative studs slidably mounted in said frame adjacent said cylinder and adapted to be alternately projected into the path of said tumbler member to swing it in opposite directions, an arm pivoted to said tumbler member at a point offset from the pivotal mounting of the latter, and also connected to said impression cylinder, a coil spring carried by said arm and adapted to bias said tumbler member toward its end positions after passing a dead center position in either direction, a cam on said arm adapted to be alternately moved to move said respective studs out of and into the path of said tumbler member in proper sequence to open and close the grippers during the cycles of movement of the impression cylinder.

'7. In a printing press of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an impression cylinder, a gripper shaft oscillatably mounted in said cylinder, and cylinder grippers on said shaft adapted to be actuated to clamp a sheet to be printed and to release the printed sheet for delivery from the cylinder, automatic actuating means for said grippers comprising a tumbler member on said shaft adapted to oscillate therewith to and from its opposite limits of movement in gripper opening and closing directions, a pair of alternately operative studs slidably mounted in said frame adjacent said cylinder and adapted to be alternately projected into the path of said tumbler member to swing it in opposite directions, said studs being disposed at different distances from the center of the impression cylinder and connected for reciprocal movement, a lever pivotally mounted on one end of the impression cylinder and arranged to exert resilient pressure on the tumbler member to bias it toward its end positions after passing a dead center position in either direction, a cam on said lever adapted to be alternately moved substantially radially of said cylinder to contact said respective studs and retract and project them into the path of said tumbler member.

8. In a printing press of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an impression cylinder, a gripper shaft oscillatably mounted in said cylinder, and cylinder grippers on said shaft adapted to be actuated to clamp a sheet to be printed and to release the printed sheet for delivery from the cylinder, automatic actuating means for said grippers comprising a tumbler member on said shaft adapted to oscillate therewith to and from its opposite limits of movement in gripper opening and closing directions, a pair of alternately operative studs slidably mounted in said frame adjacent said cylinder and adapted to be alternately projected into the path of said tumbler member to swing it in opposite direc-- tions, said studs being disposed at different distances from the center of the impression cylinder and connected for reciprocal movement, a lever pivotally mountedon one end of the impression cylinder and having a telescoping arm provided with resilient means for urging it toward extended position, one end of said arm abutting a portion of said tumbler member at a point offset from its center of oscillation, whereby the tumbler member is biased toward its end positions after passing a dead center position in either direction, the lever adapted to be shifted about its fulcrum upon each movement of said tumbler member, a cam arm on said lever carrying a cam adapted to be alternately moved to move said respective studs out of and into the path of said tumbler member in proper sequence to open and close the grippers during the cycles of movement of the impression cylinder.

9. In a printing press of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an impression cylinder having a shaft the ends of which are mounted in brackets pivoted to said supporting frame, a pintle for pivotally supporting said brackets, a gripper shaft oscillatably mounted in said cylinder and cylinder grippers on said shaft adapted to be actuated to clamp a sheet to be printed and to release the printed sheet for delivery from the cylinder, a tumbler member on said shaft and a pair of studs adapted to be projected into the path of said tumbler member in order to actuate said grippers, one of said studs being disposed within a recess formed in said pintle and actuating means for said stud adapted to reciprocate it within said recess.

10. In a printing press of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an impression cylinder having a shaft the ends of which are mounted in brackets pivoted to said supporting frame, a pintle for pivotally supporting said brackets, a gripper shaft oscillatably mounted in said cylinder and cylinder grippers on said shaft adapted to be actuated to clamp a sheet to be printed and to release the printed sheet for delivery from the cylinder, a tumbler member on said shaft and a pair of studs adapted to be projected into the path of said tumbler member in order to actuate said grippers, one of said studs being axially received within said pintle, a slot in the pintle, a pin entering said slot and operatively connected with said stud and a lever connecting said pin with the other of said studs for insuring reciprocal movement of said studs for alternate actuation of said tumbler member.

ANTON STOBB. 

